LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19685, 11 July 1927, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

NEWTON CREATES SURPRISE. PONSONBY TEAM DEFEATED. FINE WORK BY FORWARDS. Only one senior League football match was played in Auckland on Saturday, Newton creating a mild sensation at Carlaw Park by defeating Ponsonby, the present champions, by 14 points to 3'. There were about 3000 spectators. Toward the end of the match it was almost impossible to recognise the players, who were covered with mud. Rain fell throughout and the ground was badly churned up as the game progressed. The present positions of the teams are as follows ; Pts. Ch. P. W. L. D. For. Ag. Pts. Marist .. 8 6 2 140 140 79 12 Newton . . 8 5 2 1 117 102 11 Devonport .. 8 5 3 Ponsonby ... -7 4 2 1 100 79 9 Richmond ..8 3 4 1 101 95 7 City .. 8 2 5 1 97 153 6 Athletic .. 7 FORWARDS DECIDE ISSUE. Newton's forwards gave a dashing display against Ponsonby. who were outclassed almost from the commencement. The -winners' clever footwork and deadly tackling held up the Ponsonby rear division. The Newton forwards, led by Hall, carried a dangerous rush to Ponsonby's line, where Langley drove them back with a good kick. In quick succession Henry and Clarke broke away in. clever dribbling rushes that swept over the opposition. A brilliant bieak-away by Little almost gained a try, but Clarke failed to hold the greasy ball when actually over the Ponsonby line. Lawry, Ponsonby's hooker, retired hurt and Allen replaced him. Hall and Henry wart conspicuous in dashing forward play. Ponsonby set up a formidable defence and each Newton offensive failed to break through the line. Grey then made a fine_ effort for Ponsonby. He passed to Gardiner, who bumped oS several defenders before being safely tackled. Mclntyre,. hemmed on the touchline, cleverly cross-kicked and Henry toed the ball on past Langley. Clarke joined in the movement and dived over to score the opening try. Dufty added the major points. A mistake by Usher saw Dufty put Newton in a good position. From a scrum Little obtained possession and in-passed to Mclntyre. who scored a clever try which Dufty failed to improve. Delgrosso ran through the Newton defence, but when a try seemed possible, Dufty nullified Delgrosso's pass to Riley. Each Ponsonby attack was usually frustrated by Mclntyre. who made the play to his forwards. Before the spell ended Delgrosso just missed a goal, the ball hitting the crossbar. Half-time was called with the scores:—Newton, 8; Ponsonby,^o. On resuming, Gardiner went into the Ponsonby forwards and Hutt played on the wing. Payne and Ward were associated in a good effort that carried play to the Newton line, but Herewini beat sir defenders in a great run hack to halfway. Slowly Newton worked its way back to Ponsonby's line, aided by Dufty's powerful kicking. A short punt, by Norman was well taken by Dufty, who rarf McLeod into an easy position to score, but he dropped the pass. Hardgrave followed up a long kick, and several Ponsonby players stood by waiting for the hall to roll into touch. A few feet over the goal line, and only inches from the touch-line, the ball stopped dead in some water and Hardgrave dived for possession before the surprised Ponsonby players could' prevent a try. Dufty missed the goal-points. Peckham made a fine solo effort which placed.hia side on tho offensive. For the first time in the game the Ponsonby backs iswung into the attack, but Grey was lowered with a superb tackle by Herewini a few feet from the line. Payne and Ward carried play to the Newton line where, from a acrum, tha Ponsonby forwards swarmed over and Allen was awarded a try which Delgrosso failed to improve. Just before time was called Hall and Stack broke away, and finally Rhodes dashed over to score. Dufty- failed to goal, the game endings with scores:— •Newton,, 14; Ponsonby, 3. THE JUNIOR GAMES. In the junior representative trial match the A team beat the B team by fi points to 3. For the winners. Hunt scored a try which Bird converted. Stevens scored a try for tho B Iteam. Second Grade.—Marist, 5, beat Eingaland. 3. Third Grade.—Richmond B, 9. beat Newton, 0: Ellerslie, 3, beat Kingsland, 0: City. k 8. beat Point Chevalier, 0; Athletic, 9. beat Devonport, 3. Fourth Grade.—Richmond, 27, beat Remuera, 0; Ponsonby A, 13, beat Ponsonby B, 3. . Fifth Grade.—Akarana, 8, beat Richmond, Sixth Grade.—Devonport, 16, beat City .B, 0: Richmond, 6, beat Akarana, 3; Marist, 29, beat Akarana B, 0; Point Chevalier A, 3, drew with Devonport, 3. Primary Schools.—Otahuhu. 16. beat Onehunga Convent. 0; Newmarket, 9, beat Papatoetoe, 0; Richmond, 23, beat Onehunga, 0. DARNELL DEFEAT ROTORUA. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] ROTORUA. Sunday. Representative League matches played at Rotorua yesterday between Parnell and local teams resulted:—Seniors: Parnell, 27, v. Rotorua. 3. Juniors: Parnell. 29. v. Rotorua. 6. The Parnell players were lighter on the whole than fhe Rotorua players, but their superior combination enabled them to win. each game. CHPJSTCHURCH AND DUNEDIN. [BY TELEGR.ATH. PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH. Sunday. The League football match between Marists and Addington yesterday was won by the former by 28 points to 17. DUNEDIN, Sunday. League football matches in Dunedin yesterday resulted :—Christian Brothers, 12. beat 'City, 7; Athletic. 21, beat Kaikerai, 12.